Surge in oil prices provokes wide outcry

REJECTING the hike in petroleum prices, the citizens of Peshawar staged protests Tuesday, demanding of the government to review the said raise, reports a private TV channel.
Rallies were held at different places and the protestors chanted slogans against the government over its move to increase petroleum prices. Filling stations in the City started charging increased prices immediately as public declared the step as cruel. Some of the pumps stopped providing petrol to citizens, causing problems to the customers. However, petrol sale was resumed after the announcement about increase in prices by OGRA.
In Multan, activists of Muttahida Shehri Mahaz also staged a protest demonstration against sudden increase petroleum prices by the government, demanding immediate withdrawal of the decision.
Led by Mahaz leader Tariq Naeemullah, dozens of workers assembled outside the Multan Press Club and shouted slogans against government.
They were also holding placards and banners inscribed with their demands and anti-government slogans. The protesters burnt tyres and blocked the road.
Israr Ahmed from Rawalpindi adds: Transporters and people belonging to all spheres of life have strongly criticised the PPP-led government for the recent increase in oil prices. Demanding immediate withdrawal of the hike, the transporters threatened to observe wheel jam strike if the government failed to remove the present raise in the petroleum products.
Malik Mehboob Elahi, Chairman Muttahida Transport Union, Akhtar Awan, president, and other union office-bearers have termed the increase economic massacre of the people of Pakistan.
He said the prices of essential commodities like vegetable, pulses, sugar, rice would also increase due to hike in petrol and diesel prices, as transportation would become more expensive. This is a slap on the face of people, who voted the PPP to power. I strongly condemn the fuel prices hike and ask the government to withdraw the order, he added.
Mariam Khan, a private employee, said the increase in fuel prices would further raise the inflation rate. She urged the government to withdraw this unjustified decision. This is the worst decision of the PPP-led government which will bury the people under the burden of inflation, she added.
Our staff reporter from Islamabad adds: The business community on Tuesday resented increase in the prices of petroleum products and called upon the government to withdraw the increase as it was against the interests of business community and common man.
Zahid Maqbool, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while chairing the meeting of business community, said the drastic increase in the prices of petroleum products would not only affect the industrial and agricultural productivity but would also put an adverse impact on the economy.
The government has raised the prices of petroleum products from Rs 4.37 to Rs 5.61 per litre for the month of December.
The increase will put extra burden on the general public by increasing transportation cost for them. It will also badly affect the exports, as it will be very difficult for exporters to compete in the world market due to high production cost, he added. The govt, he said, had already increased prices of electricity by 32 percent over the last one and a half year while 10 percent hike in petroleum from December 2009 and 18 percent increase in gas price from January 2010 would push up the cost of doing business in the country.
He said the common man as well as the business community had a lot of expectations from the government but its steps were dashing all their hopes for a better future. The government should tight its own belt by slashing all unnecessary, non-developmental and non-productive expenditure, he added.
He said the international market demanded quality products to have competitive edge for which Pakistani exporters needed due encouragement and facilities.